Olive Branch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Olive Branch, Mississippi 38654
Saturday, November 14, 1998 20:54 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While executing a localizer/dme approach, the pilot executed a missed approach before the missed approach point and advised the controller, 'we was look like we just about had it there ah I think I'd like to try it one more time to see if we can make it.' The flight was cleared for the second localizer/dme approach and the airplane remained at 2,400 feet msl, for 1.3 miles past the FAF, then descended to only 1,400 feet at the missed approach point. The airplane continued to descend from that point to where the airplane was lost from radar .8 nautical mile past the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with trees, the ground, and came to rest with both wings separated. Post accident examination of the engine, and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. A non-TSO'd altimeter was found in the airplane which when tested, revealed no discrepancies. Weather observation taken 3 minutes before the accident at the Memphis International Airport, located 10.9 nautical miles from the accident airport, indicates an overcast ceiling at 300 feet with visibility of 4 statute miles mist.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures when he descended below the published minimum descent altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2054
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City OLIVE BRANCH
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38654
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OLIVE BRANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OLV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 179
Airport Elevation 401
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2051 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 297
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 332
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1746
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 15 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 211
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83396
NTSB Number MIA99FA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-8113040
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 5 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 3056
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERNIE O. HAMILTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8519 MYSEN COVE
Aircraft Owner City CORDOVA
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38018
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DCU
Departure City DECATUR
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1926
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OLV
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --